Author: newsdesk

  • ‘How can we accept rights of gays and lesbians’? Senator (WRONGLY) criticises transgender’s rights act

    ‘How can we accept rights of gays and lesbians’? Senator (WRONGLY) criticises transgender’s rights act

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Mohsin Aziz on Monday said that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2018 is “disgusting”.

    “Trans people are disgusting. There is a profound difference between them and the intersex. The latter are a creation of the Almighty. The trans on the other hand are simply gross.” he said.

    “Why do we have to protect the rights of transgenders? How can we accept rights of gays and lesbians?” he asked in the Senate.

    Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday referred the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) (Amendment) Bill, 2022, to the relevant standing committee for debate in order to reach a consensual decision on the matter.

    A lot of misinformation is being propagated about the Act, including accusations that it is creating a pathway for same sex marriages.
    There is common misconception that as per the Act, any person can change their ID card from M to F and F to M based on their own perception. However, that is simply not the case. The rules that were notified under this Act clearly say that if you are a transgender man or a woman you can change your identification card on the basis of your self-perception but only to X, not to Male or Female.

    Read more- NO, the Transgender Rights Act does not promote homosexuality

    A person having an X card can not marry a person with an ID card with a male or female gender mentioned on it.
    This provision rules out the possibility of same-sex marriage under the transgender act 201.

  • King Charles expected to sideline Meghan Markle, Prince Harry at coronation

    King Charles expected to sideline Meghan Markle, Prince Harry at coronation

    According to media reports, King Charles is expected to humiliate Prince Harry and Markle by offering them cheap seats at his coronation ceremony.

    King Charles’ coronation is anticipated to take place in the spring of 2023.

    “Harry and Meghan will get an invite to the coronation, but they will be firmly seated in the cheap seats along with Beatrice and Eugenie, as they were at the funeral. That will be it. Charles will be ruthless when it comes to protecting the Crown, and that means keeping Harry and Meghan as far from the center of gravity as possible,” a source told The Daily Beast.

    Prince Harry and Markle may give a good excuse for declining the invitation, according to some royal analysts, in order to avoid embarrassment.

    At the Queen’s funeral in Westminster Abbey, Harry and Meghan were seated behind the King and Queen Consort, while the first row was taken up by William, Katherine, their children, Zara and Mike Tindall.

  • PM Shehbaz’s alleged audio leak; Govt forms JIT

    PM Shehbaz’s alleged audio leak; Govt forms JIT

    The federal government has constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the data hacked from Prime Minister’s (PM) House, after several audio leaks surfaced on the internet.

    Following the audio leaks, an investigation was initiated to probe the data leak from the PM House, with one member each in the JIT to be included from the country’s intelligence agencies.

    The investigative team will examine how the data was hacked and will investigate if devices were installed in the PM House or if the phone calls were recorded. The team will also check which officers were present in the house at the time of the incident. Meanwhile, Special Branch personnel designated at the PM’s secretariat will also be interrogated.

    The premier has also called a meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday, September 27, related to the recording at the PM House. The meeting will be attended by the heads of security agencies.

    On Saturday, September 24, alleged audios of PM Shehbaz and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders leaked online.

    In one of the audio clips, PML-N Vice-president Maryam Nawaz allegedly can be heard complaining to her uncle [PM Shehbaz] about Finance Minister Miftah Ismail.

    The second clip allegedly concerns a conversation between PM Shehbaz, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Tarar, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and former National Assembly (NA) speaker Ayaz Sadiq about the resignations of PTI MNAs. The audio is said to be a recording of a cabinet meeting.

    Party leaders can be allegedly heard discussing whose resignations from PTI will be accepted. Moreover, the leaders can be heard saying that the final decision will be taken by PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif who is in London.

    In another audio clip, PM Shehbaz and an unidentified man can be heard allegedly discussing facilitating Maryam Nawaz’s son-in-law Raheel.

  • US to give $10m to Pakistan for food security

    US to give $10m to Pakistan for food security

    United States (US) Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has said that the US government is pleased to announce another $10 million for Pakistan’s food security programme.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari met Blinken at the State Department in Washington DC on Monday.

    Holding a joint press conference following the meeting, Bilawal said that diplomacy between the State Department and the foreign ministry of Pakistan is back once again.

    “It is indeed true that diplomacy is back between the US State Department and the foreign ministry of Pakistan,” he stressed.

    Blinken said this is a very difficult time for Pakistan after floods wreacked havoc in the country. Floods will have long-term repercussions if the situation is not handled immediately, he warned.

    The US top official said, “We are meeting when Pakistan’s one-third [area] is under water. We have a sense of urgency and sense of determination. We’re looking ahead to rebuild.”

    He stated that the US stands with the people of Pakistan at this crucial time and added that 17 planes carrying aid for flood victims had already left the country. Pakistan will also receive an additional $10 million for its food security programme, he noted.

    “That has an immediate impact. But unless we’re able together to deal with the challenge, it will have a long-term impact as well,” said Blinken.

    “I also urged our colleagues to engage China on some of the important issues of debt relief and restructuring so that Pakistan can more quickly recover from the floods,” Blinken said.

    China is a key economic and political partner of Pakistan, pushing ahead with a $54 billion “economic corridor” that will build infrastructure and give Beijing an outlet to the Indian Ocean, although Chinese interests have also faced attacks from separatists.

    During the press conference, Bilawal also invited Blinken to visit Pakistan.

  • Court discharge Ayaz Amir’s name in daughter-in law murder case

    Court discharge Ayaz Amir’s name in daughter-in law murder case

    On Tuesday, a local court discharged senior analyst Ayaz Amir’s name from the investigation case of his daughter-in-law Sarah Inam’s murder.

    A trial judge court issued arrest warrants for Ayaz Amir and his ex-wife Sameena Shah on Saturday since Sarah’s family had named the two as suspects. While his ex-wife later received pre-arrest bail, Amir was taken into custody.

    Ayaz Amir’s son Shahnawaz is accused of killing his wife Sarah at home on September 23 following an argument over a “family matter.” Her body was found bludgeoned with dumbbells to the head.

    Sarah’s murder rocked Islamabad on Friday morning, as news of the crime spread across social media and news networks.
    It has been reported that after murdering her, the accused dumped her body in a bathtub.

  • Petrol, diesel prices likely to go down as International oil prices fall

    Petrol, diesel prices likely to go down as International oil prices fall

    Due to a dramatic drop in oil rates on global markets, POL prices are expected to fall by Rs15 from October 1st.

    According to experts, the price of diesel could drop by Rs15 and the price of petrol could drop by Rs5 for the next two weeks, reports Geo.

    They stated that the new price would be determined based on the price of oil on the global markets through September 29.

    On Monday, oil prices fell for a second day due to concerns about weaker fuel consumption from an anticipated global recession brought on by rising global interest rates as well as the fact that non-dollar buyers of crude are less able to purchase it due to the strengthening US dollar.

    At 06:40 GMT, the price of Brent crude futures for November settlement fell $1.35, or 1.57 per cent, to $84.80 per barrel. The contract dropped to $84.51, its lowest price since January 14.

    The November delivery price of US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil futures fell $1.15, or 1.46 per cent, to $77.59 a barrel. WTI dropped to $77.21, its lowest level since January 6.

    The government is required to levy a fee on petroleum products as part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. The application of a petroleum levy on gasoline is currently set at Rs37.50 per litre and on diesel at Rs7.50 per litre, according to a notification released on September 1.

  • ‘I had a rift with her’: Atif Aslam opens up about fight with Asha Bhosle

    ‘I had a rift with her’: Atif Aslam opens up about fight with Asha Bhosle

    Superstar Atif Aslam has opened up about his experience in India and his tiff with legendary singer Asha Bhosle in the recent episode of Super Over with Ahmed Ali Butt.

    Butt questioned Woh Lamhe singer about his dispute with legendary singer Asha Bhosle, to which the artist replied: “I had a rift with her in the start because of the show which we were part of. It was not a very friendly relationship and it went on, for some time. However, her daughter was my fan which is why she called me and told me that my daughter asked me why I have issues with such a handsome man and that if she likes him can’t I like him as well? After that statement, I have forgotten everything and forgive you for everything you said, it was so big of her that it won my heart.”

    Replying to the question asked by the host if the rifts were scripted or real, Atif Aslam revealed that all of it was real and that the show had to stop recording in between for four to five hours due to these issues. However, they would continue recording after many requests of the producers and directors.

    On his experience in India: “To this day, there is some sort of acknowledgment about my work in India on Twitter or an artist from there puts up a status”, to which the host Ahmed Ali Butt added that Arijit Singh also appreciation Atif’s work in his concert. Atif agreed and said: “He really likes my music and I have heard that he also sings some of my songs on stage.”

    Atif also spoke up about Indian singer Palash Sen’s tweet in which he said: “According to me, the one singer-musician who has made the maximum impact on Bollywood’s music and most singers over the last 15 years, is this man. The awesome Atif Aslam. I say this with a lot of humility.”

    Atif Aslam reveals he isn't bothered, affected by Bollywood ban - Life & Style - Business Recorder

    The host further asked Atif how Bollywood has contributed to making him and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan megastars, to which the singer replied that he would first credit it to Pakistan since his album was first released in Pakistan and became a hit, after which Indian producer Mahesh Butt called him to work in India. He added: “Of course, they have a bigger reach. They marketed it really well. For instance, if someone’s hearing my music in Fiji, it’ll be because of Bollywood because they have a bigger reach.” 

  • ‘Tu jata hoga, Kaam se kaam rakh’: Yasir Hussain blasts troll for criticisim over Toronto trip, Sajal Aly reacts

    ‘Tu jata hoga, Kaam se kaam rakh’: Yasir Hussain blasts troll for criticisim over Toronto trip, Sajal Aly reacts

    Actor and director Yasir Hussain has hit out at a netizen for scrutinising him for attending Hum Awards in Toronto amidst flood crises in Pakistan.

    The social media user slammed Yasir for being in Canada while the country is battling the flood issue. The user also alleged Hussain of being a hypocrite.

    Yasir responded to the netizen by saying that, “I am here for work, like you must be going to your work place. Similarly how cricketers are playing cricket. Like cinema people are selling tickets.”

    Hussain concluded, “You also go, do your work.”

    A-list actress Sajal Aly was quick to react to Hussain’s post. The Alif star said, “Bilkul sahi (Totally right).”

    Last year Yasir slammed actress Nausheen Shah for her interview with Tabish Hashmi. The Jhooti actor took to social media and blasted the Dugdugi diva for bringing up the topic again in public domain.

    He has also warned her that next time he will upload the evidence on social media.

  • Maria B wants transgender’s rights act to be called ‘khwaja sira’ act, Twitter wants her to stop ‘commenting’

    Maria B wants transgender’s rights act to be called ‘khwaja sira’ act, Twitter wants her to stop ‘commenting’

    Designer Maria B has once again landed in controversy for her transphobic comments. The designer took to Instagram stories to share her two cents about the recent debate on Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of2018, along with her sisters Najia and Aafia.

    In the video, Maria B expresses her concern about how the said act will affect her children.

    “The first thing that one needs to do is to identify what transgender means. Who is the most famous transgender in the world? Everyone knows about Kim Kardashian and her father. He was her father first and then her mother. His name is Caitlyn Jenner” said Maria.

    Maria said the Act was “transgenders” not for ‘khwaja sira’

    “No absolutely not, this Act was designed for the khwaja sira community. They are intersex people and there’s a massive difference between them and transgenders. On the Act that represents the marginalised community, after 70 years when we’re doing something for them, and transgenders have usurped their rights,” she said.

    People are criticising the designer for sharing her opinion about a marginalized community of which she herself is not a part. Take a look at the tweets:

    The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of2018 has come under intense criticism from some sections of society during the past few weeks with two petitions also having been filed in the Federal Shariah Court against the Act.

    The Bill was enacted in the year 2018 to guarantee transgenders equal rights to education, basic health facilities , issuance of CNICs and passport and giving them a right to vote and contest elections.

    Earlier this year in August, Maria B complained about a trans activist being on the speaker’s panel at a talk in her son’s school.

  • Pakistani rupee gains Rs3 against dollar in early interbank trading

    Pakistani rupee gains Rs3 against dollar in early interbank trading

    The Pakistani rupee maintained its stability on Wednesday, the second working day of the week, after regaining ground versus the US dollar on Tuesday in the interbank market.

    Details indicate that the value of the local currency relative to the US dollar increased by Rs3.32 and that it was trading at about Rs234. Data from Pakistan’s central bank show that the rupee ended the day at Rs237.02 on Monday.

    The rupee has recovered a total of Rs5.65 over the last two working days thanks to the most recent intraday increase.

    Despite disastrous floods wrecking Pakistan’s economy, the rupee came close to hitting a record low of Rs240 versus the dollar but was unable to do so following many encouraging signs.

    According to Zafar Paracha, General Secretary of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP), the market appears to be reacting to the arrival of PML-N leader Ishaq Dar and the announcement that he will succeed Miftah Ismail as finance minister.